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The Map of the Sky: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.02) - 564 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A love story serves as backdrop for The Map of the Sky when New York socialite Emma Harlow agrees to marry millionaire Montgomery Gilmore, but only if he accepts her audacious challenge: to reproduce the extraterrestrial invasion featured in Wells' War of the Worlds. What follows are three brilliantly interconnected plots to create a breathtaking tale of time travel and mystery, replete with cameos by a young Edgar Allan Poe and Captain Shackleton and Charles Winslow from The Map of Time.
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"It's difficult to describe this series by Felix Palma, but if you can imagine a literary romp, part action adventure, part timeless love story that pays homage to H.G. Wells, Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Verne, H.P. Lovecraft, and John W. Campbell (author of the original story that spawned three remakes of The Thing), you might come close to glimpsing the convolutions of this wildly inventive nod to Wells' original tale of alien invasion. Then again, in spite of lovingly coaxing forth every familiar trope of his beloved sources, Palma diverges so arcanely, I find myself wondering what drugs Palma is taking and where I can get some. (Or more wisely, how I can avoid such drugs at all costs.) Even the narrative refuses to walk the common path of narrative and boldly strikes off on its own as if to say, "I'm the writer, and I'll do as I fucking choose. Deal with it, or read something else." It helps to have read Palma's literary inspirations, because truly his knowledge of these works and deft manipulations of them are fascinating... but I would probably enjoy this book even if I hadn't, just for the sheer weird imaginative convoluted time-traveling plot shenanigans. I tip my hat to you, Palma, even if you are a wordy bastard who takes over 500 pages to get to the punchline."
— Constance (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Having used H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine as the starting point for 2011’s The Map of Time, Palma now takes The War of the Worlds as the basis for this top-notch sequel…Fans of intelligent science fiction as well as historical thrillers will be rewarded.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Palma writes with shrewdness and glee.”
— Washington Post -
“A cross-genre masterpiece.”
— Associated Press -
“The Map of the Sky keeps the reader guessing, checking, and thinking, all the while providing many sidelights on the literary history of sci-fi itself.”
— Wall Street Journal
Awards
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Selected for the September 2012 Indie Next List
The Map of the Sky Listener Reviews
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" The interconnecting plot lines of this second book of The Map of Time trilogy are at times paradoxical, but that is what I thought was what made this such an enjoyable read. Do NOT read this series out of order. That's an order! "
— Kathleen, 1/28/2014 -
" Overall I liked it. There is a novel-within-a-novel that reminded me quite a bit of "The Terror" by Dan Simmons, which is one of my favorite books. The ending here is a bit sketchy, but overall an enjoyable read. "
— Chris, 1/20/2014 -
" This was a good book. Include my favorite author H.G. Wells.. "
— Michelle, 1/15/2014 -
" It took me forever to read this because my life has been so hectic the past couple of months, but it was just as good as The Map of Time. Palma has a great voice for speculative fiction and his HG Wells character is someone I want to hang out with even though he would think I'm a ninny (and he'd be right). A lot of Victorian-set speculative fic is steampunk; this isn't, but it is definitely very historical feeling and full of offense at the poor manners of others. I LOVE THIS. You may not. "
— Kim, 1/10/2014 -
" Not as good as I thought it would be...I thought it would be a lighter read, but it was heavier on the science than the fantasy and skipped from one point in time to another and tied it up near the end and still didn't really satisfy the need to feel closure for the story.I did enjoy it but kind of felt let down at the end. :( "
— Donna, 1/1/2014 -
" Una historia muy interesante que se pierde entre tanta palabra. "
— Welzen, 12/30/2013 -
" Better than an less predictable and formulaic than map of time. I think the imagination is there and creative storytelling, I just find too many borrowed elements and plot devices from other media too say it's great. This book blatantly rips off ideas from the thing for example. "
— Jesse, 12/8/2013 -
" Not as good as the first on. Good read that one, like right now. "
— Tim, 12/4/2013 -
" Excellent sequel! Made me laugh out loud a few times and I just love Palma's writing style. It's so smooth and effortless that the book just flows like water. A great combination of suspense, extraterrestrial invasion and time travel. "
— Tamlyn, 10/29/2013 -
" Here is a combination book, a carefully plotted joining of science fiction that we know. The story told is good not great and too movie like. If you love old London this is for you. There are many better telings of time travel than this effort. "
— Klever, 10/18/2013 -
" The first was better, but I'm still looking forward to the next installment of this series... "
— Morgan, 7/17/2013 -
" Not as good as the first "
— L, 11/22/2012 -
" This book changed focus so many times I wasn't always sure where it was going. That kept the story fresh, though. Very vividly written and wonderfully imaginative. I'm going to have to check out his other books. "
— Amy, 11/16/2012
About Félix J. Palma
Félix J. Palma is a Spanish author best known for The Map of Time, his first book to be published in the United States. Critically acclaimed, his short stories have won numerous awards and international recognition.
About James Langton
James Langton, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and later as a musician at the Guildhall School in London. He has worked in radio, film, and television, also appearing in theater in England and on Broadway. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002.